Car-coupling



N0 Model.)

' 4Sheets-Sheet 2. E. G. WASHBURN.

GAR GOUPLING.

Patented Nov. 16, 1897.

(NOModel.) 4 SheefcsSheet 3.

E. 0. WASHBURN. GAR- COUPLING.

PATENT FERSE,

EDWVIN C. WASHBURN, OB MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPEGIFIGATION forming paart of Letters Patent N0. 593,951, dated November 16, 1897.

Application fi1ed June Z4. 1897.

T0 all wh0m it mag czmcern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN G. WASHBURN, a citizen of the Uriited Staates, residin g ab Minneapolis in the oounty of Hennepin and State 0f Minnesota, ha1 e invented eertain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Oouplers and I do hereby deolare the following 110 be a f1111, o1ear, and exaot description of the invention, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to which it appeftains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to car-couplers, and has for its object 110 generally improve the 2011-. struction and operation of the same;

T0 the ends above noted my invention 0011- sists of the novel devices and oombinations of devices hereinafter 'described, and defined in the claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, Wherein, 1ike letters referring to like parts throughout the several views Figure 1 .is a perspective view, With sonne parts in section, shoWing the head 0f my improved ooup1er with the locking (log 01' pin in its normal 01 looked positi0n. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertioal section taken through a portion 0f the coupler substantially on the 1ine X X of Fig. 1 and illustrating also the normal or locking position 0f the locking dog 01 pin and of the so-called retaining device. Fig. 3 is a perspeotive view, with some parts shown in seotion,illustrating the coupler With its looking dog 01 pin partia1ly raised Fig. 4 is likewise a perspeetive view with sonne parts shown in seetion, but illustrating the coupler With the knuckle thereof open am].

the locking dog 01 pi1 1 sustained by the tail thereof. tion taken substantially 011 the 1i11e X X of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a perspe'otive view of the coupler, showing the knuokle closed and the 100k dog or pin set in a position in which it Will pe1mit the knuokle 130 be freely opened. Fig. 7 is a transversevertioal seotion taken approximately on the 1ine X X of Fig. 6; and Figs. 8 and 9 are respeotively views in perspeotive and side elevation showing a portion of th e coupler, a portion of one of the transverse end timbers of the ca1, and difiere11t modificat-ions of the lock dog 01 pin 1ifting d evice. 1

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertioal See Seria1 N0, 642,068. (N0 model.)

a indieates the draft-timbers, and a one of oho transverse end timbers 01 beams, 0f a car.

b indicates the body 01 draft-bar seotion of the coupler, Whieh, as shown, is cast integral With a reeessed ooupler-head b, which is provided With the ordinary heavy hinge-lugs b c indicates the knuckle or jaw, Which is pivotall y oonnected to the lugs 12 of the Coupler-headb by means of a pint]e 01 pivot-bolt d. The inner 01 tail end of the knuckle is C011- structed with a segmental dog or pin sustaining surface o and with a raised shoulder or ledge c Which are adapted for coperation with the lower end of the looking dog or pin in a manner which Will also be more o1early brought out 1ater 011.

f indioates the locking dog 01 pin, which is mounted 110 work through a suitable seat b formed in the top 0f the ooupler-head. At one of its lower oorners the d0g or pin f is provided With a depending guide-lug0r extension f, which is adapted to WOIk through a suitable seat b, formed in the bottom of the eoupler-head b. The ooupler-head b is also provided with a oan1-lug b whioh is 10- cated rearward and just out of the path of the tai1 end of the knuckle c, With one Wall thereof forming an upwardly-extended guidesurfaoe of one side 0f the guide-lug seat b. Both the top of this cam-lug b and the bottom of the guide-lug f are beveled, so that their engagement Will cam the dog 01 pin f into such position that said guide-lug f Will fa1l into the seat b The pin-seat'b is latera11y expanded, so that when said dog 01 pi11 is raised far enough to permit the guide-lug f 110 elear the oam-lug 12 said dog o1 pin is free to swing sidewise and its 1ower end to be engaged With the ledge 01 shoulder 0 as illustrated in Fig. 6. In this position oho dog 0r pin is sustainedin its unlooking position by the shoulder 01 ledge 0 and the knuokle c is free and may be opened whenever suffioient force is applied thereto to turn the same 011 its pivot.

The pin-lifting device is so applied to the same that Ehe act of raising the pin 01' dog Will also cause the (log to swing sidewise and engage the shoulder or 1edge 0 This dog- 1ifting device is also arranged 130 operate 01 release a retaining device whieh normally IOO loeks and holds the loeking d059: 01 pin in its lowermost 01 loekingposition. This construc ti0n is preferably substantially as follows: g indicates a retaining-hook whieh is pivotallyeonnected t0 the head of the loek dog 01 pin ab a point offsen from its eenter of grzwiby 011 filmt side 0f. said dog t0ward whieh it is adapted to swing for engagernenb with Lhe shoulder 01 ledge 0 on the tail of ohe knuekle. The free end of this retaininghook g is normallyheld by its own gravity in engagement with a detenb 01 noteh b formed in thal: portion of the coupler-head whieh surrounds nhe seat Z)*. Vhen thns engaged, the retaininghoc]: g seeurely l0eks and holds the dog 01 pin in its lowermost 01 loeking position, so tlmt the sa1ne cannot be released 01 moved by force applied direetly to the said loeking dog 01 pin. This makes it i1npossible for the loeking d0g 01 pin t0 be worked 01111 0f ius seat 01 aecidentally unloeked. The l0wer end of the lifting conneetion 7.: is attael1ed to the retaining-hook g at a point offset; fron1 its point of atmehment so the loeking-dog in a direetion toward its free eud, so tha when the lifting strain is applied through the eonnection said retaining-hook g will firsn be disengaged from tl1e notch 01 detent 11 and Lhen the said lifting strain Will become effecbive t0 reise seid locking-dog into ibs unloeking position.

Assuming filmt; the loeking-dog has been set a s indieated in Fig. G, The aetion under the opening moven1ent 0f the knuekle Will be as follows: The forward npper eorner of the pin-sustaining supfaee 01 flange c 011 the teil 0f ehe knuckle will strike the gnide-lng exlension f 0f the (log 01 pin fand will positivel3 force 01 enrry ehe sa1ne int0 vertieal line with the seat b Au this point the (lange 01 surface c will be earried out of engagemenl; WiLh the guide-lugf in Vi1tue 0f the fach tha'o the seid Ing f in its lateral 1novement n1oves tangentially t0 1;he movemen 0f said surface c, and the ledge 01 shoulder 0 Will be earried beyond 01 fr0n1 under the botton1 0f the pinf, thus permitting said pin 01 dog f t0 full onto the surface 01 flange c. The surfaee 01 fiange c will snstain the pin in the position illustrated in Fig. 3 unil the knuekle is again closed. In this position (illustrated in Fig. 3) it will be noted the guidelug f 0f ohe pin 01 dog f has fallen below the eam-faced 01 beveled top of tl1e sann-Ing b, and henee Will prevent the loeking dog 01 pinf from being moved laterally under the return movement 0f the knuckle by Ehe frietional engagement between ohe bottom of said (10g 01 pin and ehe surfaee 01 flange c. \Vhen alle tail of the knuekle reaehes its normal 01 innermost position, it will be moved inward 0f the bottom 0f said dog fand the dog will be free 130 fall by gravity into its normal 01 locking position. (Indieated in Fig. l.) \Vhen 13116 loeking d0g 01 pin is released fron1 the sustaining surfaee 01 flange c, as just de- Scribed, the dog-retaining hook g will, under the zlction 0f the gravity 0f the parts, can1 itself inoo engagement witl1 the noteh 01 detent Ifl.

The locking d0g orpinfis 0Ethat dass ofpins 01 d0gs whieh me nsually designated as vertically-movable loeking plus 01 dogs. F01 a specifie purpose I mount; this pln 01 dog f01 movemeni; 0n a line deviating somewhat from the vertical and inelining rearward, 01 toward the body of Lhe ear. By means of a conneetion, hereinafter deseribed, between the locking pin 01 dog and the body of the cm said pin 01' dog may, in virue 0f its inclined position, be manch more easily dmwn 01 released in ease the eoupler is t01n lo0se fro1n the car than if set f01 movement in a trne vertical position. In tl1e construetion shown the locking pin 0r (log f is provided 011 its l'eau face with a vertieally-elongated noteh f", and the coupler-head is provided with a removable transverse pin f Direeting attention n0w 150 the pin-lifting deviee, 7c indicates a rock-shaft; mounted in -keepers 70 70 on the oransverse beam a with freedom for rotary as well as a limited endwise moven1ent. AI; one side 0f 1;he canthe roek-shaft; k is bent 0If au a right angle 130 forn1 an operating-lever 01 handpieee 70 21I1(1 at; ios other end 113 is provided with a projeeting arm The keeper 76 is provided With a noteh 7c, into whieh the :mn 01 handpiece 70 is adapted so be moved by endwise movement 0f he shaft k to hold seid arm 7c in its uppennos position. The free end 0f the arm 70 is flattened and perforaed, a s shown at 7.3 In Ehe eonstruetion illustrated in Fig. 8 a 10d 01 conneetion 70 With upper-end head 70 works loosely through the perforated end 70 01": the

arm 7c and has its lower end plvoted t0 a lng f 011 the upper end of he loeking-dogf. In Lhe eonsruetion illustraed in Fig. 9 the lower end 0f the 10d 01 link 79 works through one end 0f a buekle 01 spring-containing fm1ne 70 and is pinned 01 otherwise secured t0 a head k, whieh is mounted to reeip1o0ate in suitable guides k, formed in said buekle k-. The lower end 0f the buekle 70 is shown as provided Wll3ll 2L lug 01 ea1 7c, which is secured between the ears f 011 Lhe upper end 0f the loeking-dog f. 7c indieates a spring Whieh is coiled 0n the 10d 01 link 70 and is compressed between tl1e sliding head 7a ELl1d the upper end 0f said buekle k. The guides 79 in the bnekle 70 pennit a li1nited movement 0f l)1l() sliding head 7.: and then ach as stops to render the eonneetion rigid against further extension. Furthermore, seid guides 70 are only so extended that they Will not per mit the spring k to reaeh the lin1ib 0f its 00mpression.

VVih the ordinary ehain connection be tween the arm 0f the lifning device and the loekingdog ehe links 0f he chain are very liable t0 becon1e twisted one upon he othe1 01' snarled, so t0 speak, so filmt the length 0f the conneetion beeomes shortened for the filme being. This will often prevent the loeking dog or pin from falling into its loeking position, 0r it may prevent the lever or handpieee 10 from being turned into engagement with the notch In". However, with the form of eoup ling or link conneetions illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 both the locking dog or pin and the lever-operated deviees are always free 110 move t0 their li-mits, as the rod or link is always free 110 slip through the perforation 0f 11he lifting-arm In. The flexible conneetion is adapted 110 yield, so as t0 adapt itself 110 11he different positions required as the coupler moves forward and backward. 111 is of course evident 11ha11 in both 01: the eonstructions illus trated in Figs. 8 and 9 the 10wer end 0f the lifting co nnection, instead of being seeured direetly 110 the loeking-dog, might be indirectly securedas t0 the retaining-hook g, for example.

Attention is here called to the fact that 11he lower edge 015 the detent or notch k of 11he keeper 70 is beveled 0r inelined, as shown at 6. In virtue 0f tl1is ineline the handpiece 70 0f the roek-shaft k when forced against the same by endwise movement of said shaft k will be engaged and frietionally held in whatever vertical position 111 happens 110 00- cupy when turned upward t0 raise the locking pin or dog in110 its unloeking 01 extreme upp errnost position.

111 will be understood, 0f course, that various alterations in the details of oonstruetion above described may be made without departing from the spirit 0f my invention. F01 instance, it Will be understood 11hat the retaining device for holding the loeking-dog in its loeking position and certain 0ther devices which coperate therewith may be used in eombination with a coupler employing a pivoted 01 swinging locking-dog.

Wha1: I 0laim, and desire 110 secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as fol10ws l. The eombination with a eoupler, involvinga coupler-head, pivoted knuckle and 100king-dog, 01: a retaining deviee acting 10 seeure said dog in its loeking position, a sustaining surface 01 projeetion carried by 11he 11ai1 of saicl knuekle, adapted 110 move under said locking-dog and aeting to hold said dog upward above a position in which said retaining device is operative 110 secure the same, and a releasing connection arranged to first release said retaining device and then move said dog into its unlocking position, substantially as deseribed.

2. The eombination with a coupler. involvin g a eoupler-head, pivoted knuckle and locki1'1g-dog, of a retaining device aeting 110 seeure said dog in its locking position, a (10g lifting 0r relea-sing device involving said retaining deviee as a section or link thereof, and a surface or projeetion earried by 11he tail 0f said knuckle and ae11ing to hold said dog in a position in which said retaining deviee is inoperative 110 se cure 11he same, when said knuckle is opened, substantially as described.

3. The eombination with a eoupler, involving a eoupler-head, pivoted knuckle or jaw and loeking-dog, of a hand-operated dog-releasing device involving, a spring, and a spring-holding bracket 0r buckle eonstructed 110 permit said spring 130 yield less 11lian 11he limit 0f its elasticity and then to beeome rigid, 110 positively release the dog, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a coupler, involving a eoupler-head, pi1*oted knuckle and vertically-nciovable 10cking-dog, 0f a retaining device acting to secure said dog in its 100king 0r lowermost position, a surface 0r pro j ee11ion earried by the tail of said knuckle and acting 110 hold said dog above the positi0n in whieh said retaining deviee is aetive thereon t0 secure 11he same, while said knuckle is open, which re11aining device is in the form 0f a hook pivoted 110 said dog and forming part of the releasing 0r dog-lifting connee tion, substantially as described.

5. In a coupler 0f 11he character described, 11he eombination With the pivoted knuckle, Of a locking dog or pin mounted in 11he eonplerhead, With freedom for vertical and a limited lateral movement, a surface or fiange carried by the tail 0f said knuekle and aetin g to prevent said loeking dog or pin from falling into a locking position while 11he knuckle is open, and a raised shoulder or ledge 0n the tail of said knuekle, upon' whieh the lower end 0f said d0g or pin is adapted 110 be eng9.ged t0 set said dog so 11ha11 the knuekle may 100 opened, substantially as des0ribed. 6. In a 0011111er 0f the eharacter desciib d, 11he combination with 11he pivoted knuekle, 0f a loeking dog or pin mounted in the couplerhead, With freedom f0r vertical and a limited lateral movement, a surfa'tze 0r fiange carried by the tail of 11he knuckle and aeting t0 prevent said locking dog 0r pin from falling into its loekin g position while the knuckle is open, a raised shoulder 0r ledge 011 the tail of said knuckle upon whieh the lower end 0f said dog er pin is adapted 110 be engaged t0 set said dog so that'the knuckle may be opened, and coperating stop projections 0r surfaces, one 0n said loeking-dog and the other on11he eoupler-head, which projeetions 0r surfaces prevent the lateral movement 0f sa id dog or pin when resting upon the lower surfaee 0r flange 01: Said knuckle, but permit the lateral movement of the said dog wl1en raised for engagement With the said raised shoulder 0r ledge 0f said knuekle, substantially as described.

7. In a eoupler 0f the eharaeter described, theeombination withthe reeessed couplerhead b b 0f the pivoted knuekle c, the tail of whieh is formed with the lower and extended dog-sustaining surfaee 0r flange c and the raised shoulder or ledge o the verticallymovable locking dog or pin f coperating With the tail c 0 of said knuekle and provided with the guide-lug projeeti0n f, and

IIO

ing a coupler-head, a pivoted knuek1e 01 jaw and a looking-dog, of a hand-operated dogreleasing device, involving the 10d k with head 7c, the buckle 70 in which said 10d 70 and head k W0lk, and the spring k compressed between one end 0f said buck1e 70 and said head 7a, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presenee 0f two witnesses.

ED\VIN O. VASHBURN.

Vitnesses:

LILLIAN O. ELMORE, FRANK D. I\IERCHANT. 

